ASSOULINE

Assouline is a game changer in the world of publishing, responsible for revolutionizing the coffee-table book. Established 25 years ago by New York–based tastemakers Prosper and Martine Assouline, the company is famous for its immersive and sumptuous volumes on art, fashion and culture.

At the tender age of 28, Alex Assouline, son of Prosper and Martine, now directs the family-owned concern as vice president. Sharp-witted, handsome and impeccably dressed, Alex grew up in a rich cultural milieu, thanks to his parents’ deep interest in the arts.

His godfather was the late couturier Azzedine Alaïa, and parents instilled Alex with a creative energy as they published opulent hardcovers that broke the mold, from illustrated tomes celebrating fashion legends and high-society doyens to hand-bound limited-edition art monographs with Italian linen covers.

Under Alex’s leadership, Assouline Publishing is dedicated to defining the art of fine living through books. Like his parents, he is guided by a love of beautiful things, but he is steering the brand toward new horizons, namely the curation of libraries in homes and commercial properties. 

Alex uses his discerning eye to create stylish Wunderkammern that reflect the personalities of their owners, each replete with exquisite books, furniture and objets d’art.

...and what objects does Alex have in his own library?

“I love magnifying glasses,” he explains. “They are both useful and decorative. Objects really elevate libraries and can also make them more personal.

“An interesting photograph or painting next to a bookcase, a wooden coffee table or a Le Corbusier lounge chair, brings everything to life. In essence, a library isn’t simply books placed on a shelf — it is a place of individual character, an important space in any home.”

Start building your home library today — browse an extraordinary collection of Assouline books on 1stDibs.